How can you quickly update your healthcare leadership knowledge?

1 Read industry publications

One of the easiest ways to update your healthcare leadership knowledge is to read industry publications that cover topics such as healthcare policy, quality improvement, patient safety, digital health, and workforce development. You can subscribe to newsletters, magazines, journals, blogs, or podcasts that offer insights and analysis from experts and peers. Some examples of reputable sources are Healthcare Executive, Journal of Healthcare Management, Healthcare Innovation, and Modern Healthcare. Reading industry publications can help you stay on top of current issues, challenges, and opportunities in healthcare management.

2 Join professional associations

Another way to update your healthcare leadership knowledge is to join professional associations that cater to your specific area of interest or expertise. Professional associations can provide you with access to educational resources, networking opportunities, mentoring programs, and certification courses. You can also participate in events, webinars, conferences, and workshops that offer valuable information and skills development. Some examples of professional associations for healthcare leaders are American College of Healthcare Executives, Healthcare Financial Management Association, American Association for Physician Leadership, and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

3 Take online courses

A third way to update your healthcare leadership knowledge is to take online courses that cover relevant topics and skills for your role. Online courses can offer you flexibility, convenience, and affordability to learn at your own pace and schedule. You can choose from a variety of formats, such as self-paced, instructor-led, or cohort-based. You can also select from a range of levels, from introductory to advanced. Some examples of online courses for healthcare leaders are Leadership and Management for Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Quality and Safety, Healthcare Data Analytics, and Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

4 Follow thought leaders

A fourth way to update your healthcare leadership knowledge is to follow thought leaders who share their opinions, insights, and experiences on various aspects of healthcare management. Thought leaders can be influential practitioners, researchers, educators, consultants, or authors who have expertise and authority in their field. You can follow them on social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or YouTube, or on their personal websites or blogs. You can also engage with them by commenting, liking, or sharing their posts. Some examples of thought leaders for healthcare leaders are David Feinberg, Eric Topol, Atul Gawande, and Amy Edmondson.

5 Seek feedback and coaching

A fifth way to update your healthcare leadership knowledge is to seek feedback and coaching from others who can help you improve your performance and effectiveness. Feedback and coaching can come from various sources, such as your supervisors, peers, subordinates, mentors, or external coaches. You can ask for feedback and coaching on specific areas of improvement, such as communication, decision making, teamwork, or innovation. You can also use tools, such as 360-degree feedback surveys, self-assessments, or personality tests, to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Feedback and coaching can help you gain new perspectives, learn from mistakes, and develop new skills and behaviors.

6 Experiment and innovate

A sixth way to update your healthcare leadership knowledge is to experiment and innovate with new ideas, approaches, or solutions that can enhance your organization and your industry. Experimenting and innovating can help you challenge the status quo, embrace change, and create value. You can experiment and innovate by identifying problems or opportunities, generating hypotheses, testing assumptions, measuring results, and scaling up or pivoting. You can also collaborate with other stakeholders, such as patients, providers, partners, or competitors, to co-create and co-learn. Experimenting and innovating can help you grow as a leader and as a learner.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?